Kitchen Appliances

The average American household spends more than
$1,500 per year on energy costs. New energy-saving
appliances can reduce this amount by at least 30%
(or $450 for the average household). For example, by
replacing a 20-year old refrigerator, it is possible to save
$85 per year on energy costs (EnergyStar, 2005). Not
only will you save electricity, but also reduce air pollution
and CO� emissions generated by coal fired power plants.
Major appliances can account for a large portion of your
monthly energy bill. If you have older appliances (over
10 years old), you are probably paying considerably more
per month in energy costs than necessary. To reduce these
costs, there are two options: replace the old appliance
with a new, energy-saving model, or practice energy
saving techniques to reduce energy consumption until
you can afford to buy a new one.
When thinking about replacing an old appliance, be
aware that some appliances can give you a faster payback
in reduced energy costs. This is especially true for
refrigerators.
New appliances generally do not consume as much
energy as older models (see Table 1). This is because they
must meet certain Federal energy efficiency standards.

These standards have been tightened through the years, so
generally the newer models are more energy efficient than
the older models.